Gene, 
Without you guys I wouldn't have know what to look for!  Let alone do any testing.  Your information over this board has helped me considerably!  I don't post alot but I read just about every day.  Thanks again.  Stephen

Jim and Gene
Just an update;   I received a new primary circuit board and installed it in the loco last evening.  In about 20 minutes I had a new F40PH Phase III running around singing like a bird.  I also installed an MRC sound decoder.  So apparently you were correct and it was a board problem.  Thanks for all your assistance.   Stephen

P.S.   for all those out there that are having problems with Bachmann service....I ordered this board and received it in one week!  No problems.  Thanks to Bachmann service personnel too!

I don't understand, so far I have clled Bachmann service/parts and they have answered the phone and have been quite helpful.  I e-mailed and Bridget responded.  Not in the same day, but never the less responded.  I have ordered parts and have had no problem receiving them in 7 to 10 days!  I do use the non toll free number and use extension 11 or 17 for parts and service.  So far works every time for me!!  Stephen

All, The Cass Scenic Railroad in West Virginia has an eleven percent grade and the Shays, the Climax and the Heisler they have all handle it very well!  Of course the fastest they run is about 7 to 8 mph!!  Plus they switch back to turn around.  Makes for a very interesting day!  Stephen

I've got one of the Athearn snow plows and it  (new one) works very well.  Good rail contact and lots of room inside bothe the plow and the tender for some new and neat ideas!

Bachmann,  you will be missed!

Here I thought it was just me!  lol  I bought into an old hobby store of model HO trains and then just went nuts!!  I'm rebuilding, building, repainting and restoring.  Your all right...I love this stuff!!  lol  And I can't stop......

Hmmmm.....always did find it difficult.  I was born and reared in West Virginia.  My home has always been there.  Been around B & O, C & O, And western Maryland railroads but only just to see them passing by!  Got into the model railroading hobby just last Spring and have been going at it ever since.  I was brought up around firearms (Grandfather was a gunsmith) and love and have done just about any and all outdoor activities you can come up with.  I'm a career law enforcement officer(should retire in seven years or so; need to now!  lol)  I have served and continueing to serve in the military as a reservist.  Six years active duty!  I have four children, seven grandchildren and three great grandchildren, so far!  I have lived for short periods of time in just about every place in the world.  I've never been to Australia, yet!  I have served with some Aussies and have a lot of respect for them.  I would love to visit there for a while.  And it is sad to say I have never been to Canada!  Although the Toronto Police Motorcycle demonstration team comes to Elkins WV every year, and I get to interact with them a good bit.  Enjoy it thoroughly.  I guess that's the short version anyway.  Stephen

Bach-Man

just for a little info for me, are you going to be at the H & R Trains, Train Show on the 13, 14 and 15 of April, in Pinellas Park FL?  I am on active duty at MacDill AFB right now and plan to take leave for the show.  Alice indicated that Bachmann is an avid supporter of their show.  Stephen

Jim and Gene,
just finished running this loco through some tests.  Seems the board may be the culpret.  The decoders work very well in other locos.  I tested the eight pin female plug on the board with an ohm meter.  point one and point eight had a significantly grerater reading than on two other locos that werre identical boards!  The (I would assume anyway) normal reading on the good locos was .000 to .001.  The reading on the bad board would change (I am assuming from my movement) from .003 to .040 on bothe pins.  I haven't a clue as to what that means except the bad board has more resistance.  At this point I am going to try and get a new board from Bachmann unless you all would know what I need to do from here.  Thanks for you assistance,   Stephen

Jim, I'll try that this weekend.  Unfortunitly, weekends are the only timeI have to work on them.  Hadn't thought of that one...should have though!  lol  Oh well guess I gettin old!  lol  thanks for the info.  I should have some more input by Friday evening!  I just aching to work on it!  Stephen

Gene, thought of that too.  It didn't make any difference when I switched them around.  However, if my understanding is correct, the orange wire is the number 1 position, correct?  I also thought maybe since the board is pretty intricate in this new engine that maybe the decoder is already instaleed!  Who knows, so I tried it anyway.  No functin of any sort with the plug out.  Put the plug in and the engine runs great on DC.  Any other thoughts or suggestions and I will give them a try.  thanks for the assistance,  Stephen

It is a plug/pin type installation.  It is a new Bachmann engine.  I will try the resistance measure.  I had the feeling it may be the main board myself but don't know enough about them yet.  Thanks for the information and I'll advise my findings as soon as I can get to test it, which may not be until this weekend.  Thanks again,  Stephen

I have a brand new Bachmann F40PH Phase III loco and first run it in DC and it worked very well.  I then took a new Bachmann decoder and installed it in the loco.  Not my first one!  The loco began to run at a moderate pace with the throttle turned completely off.  (EZ Command)  When I put the controller on 10 I can control the throttle somewhat.  It will not change directions nor will any of the other functions work.  I thought maybe I had a bad decoder and tried another one.  Same results.  Anybody have any ideas here?  thanks     Stephen

Bach-man
Thanks for the reply.  I do understand the economics but I had just read through the catalog and it was like the little boy who knew he was getting candy and then didn't!  lol  My post had several unexpected results though and it looks as if I will still get my Climaxes!  I do want to say that over the last six months I have had the opportunity to run and work on older Bachmann's and new ones.  I've compared them with new Kato and Atherns.  I must say they are as good as or better than any Kato or Athern made today.  There has been a lot of work on Bachmann's part over the last 10 years and it shows.  Again just wanted to say keep up the great work!